DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group II, claims 10-14 in the reply filed on 01/09/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the feature of claim 1 is common to claims 10 and 15 so searches for inventions I, II, and III do not appear to be unduly burdensome. This is not found persuasive because Groups I and II are an intermediate and final product. Group I is useful as an ink for a cured image on a polyethylene terephthalate or paper substrate instead of a window base. Groups II and III are related as a process of making and a product made. The process may be used to form a display device with a sensor or decoration on the window rather than a display or set module. .
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Foreign Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. KR10-2022-0092966, filed on 07/27/2022.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/26/2023 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
The term “about” in claim 10 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “about” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. A range of about 1.0
The term “about” in claim 13 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “about” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. A range of about
A broad range or limitation together with a narrow range or limitation that falls within the broad range or limitation (in the same claim) may be considered indefinite if the resulting claim does not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired. See MPEP § 2173.05(c). In the present instance, claim 11 recites the broad recitation "and/or", and the claim also recites "and" which is the narrower statement of the range/limitation. The claim is considered indefinite because there is a question or doubt as to whether the feature introduced by such narrower language is (a) merely exemplary of the remainder of the claim, and therefore not required, or (b) a required feature of the claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 10-14 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over You; US 2015/0208536 A1; 09/2014 in view of Aoyama et al.; US 2024/0124725 A1; 03/2022
Claim 10. You teaches a display device ( Fig. 1: display device #100 ) comprising: a window ( Fig. 1: window #20 ); a display module ( Fig. 1: display panel #10 ) disposed on the window ( Fig. 1 #20 ); and a set module ( Fig. 1 housing #40) disposed on the display module ( Fig. 1 #10 ), wherein the window ( Fig. 1 #20 ) includes: a window base ( [0024] The window for the display device may include a base member including a polymer resin layer or a glass layer 130, an adhesive layer 150, and a PET film 170, and a printing layer 310 on the base member 110, and an adhesive film ); and a printed layer ( Fig. 3: printing layer #310 ) disposed on a first side of the window base ( Fig. 3: base member #110 ).
You does not appear to disclose formed from an ink composition, the ink composition includes: a base resin including an acrylic resin; a multifunctional curing agent having four or more functional groups; a pigment dispersed in the base resin; and a matting agent having a median particle size in a range of about 1.0 µm to about 2.0 µm and dispersed in the base resin.
However, Aoyama teaches formed from an ink composition ( Fig. 3 pattern layer #5; [0136] An ink (ink for pattern layers) consisting of a resin composition containing a resin binder and colorants is used for forming the pattern layer 5 ), the ink composition includes: a base resin including an acrylic resin ( [0137] Preferable examples of the resin binder include resins such as urethane resins, acrylic polyol resins, acrylic resins, polyester resins, alkyd resins, amide resins, butyral resins, styrene resins, urethane-acrylic copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-acrylic copolymer resins, nitrocellulose resins (nitrocellulose), cellulose acetate resins, and fluororesins ) ; a multifunctional curing agent having four or more functional groups ( [0137] isocyanate as a curing agent may be used ); a pigment dispersed in the base resin ( [0138] Pigments, dyes, and combinations of these can be used as colorants to be used for the pattern layer 5 ); and a matting agent ( [0140] The pattern layer 5 may contain a matting agent for easily obtaining a visual effect due to the gloss difference from the projections 20 ) having a median particle size in a range of about 1.0 µm to about 2.0 µm ( [0141] The particle size (volume-average particle size) of the matting agent is preferably 1 μm to 15 μm ) and dispersed in the base resin ( [0140] the pattern layer 5 may contain a matting agent; the pattern layer also contains a resin as described above ).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to utilize the teachings of Aoyama with You to implement formed from an ink composition, the ink composition includes: a base resin including an acrylic resin; a multifunctional curing agent having four or more functional groups; a pigment dispersed in the base resin; and a matting agent having a median particle size in a range of about 1.0 µm to about 2.0 µm and dispersed in the base resin because this achieves a durable, high-definition, non-glare, matte finish while protecting the underlying electronic components.
Claim 11: You and Aoyama disclose the display device of claim 10 ( as discussed above).
You teaches an adhesive layer ( [0021] In order to bond the display panel 10 and the window 20, a liquid resin or a tape (for example, WB-tape) that is an adhesive member may be used ) disposed between the window ( Fig. 1 #20 ) and the display module ( Fig. 1 #10 ) and/or between the window ( Fig. 1 #20 ) and the set module ( Fig. 1 #40 ), wherein the printed layer ( Fig. 3 #310 ) is attached to at least one of the display module ( Fig. 1 #10 ) and the set module ( Fig. 1 #40 ) by the adhesive layer ( [0039] The adhesive film 340 may be on a plurality of printing layers 310. The adhesive film 340 may be at a covering a boundary between the printing layer 310 at the opaque portion 212 and the base member 110. This configuration may prevent the printing layer from being released or discolored by a liquid resin and the like that may be used in a process of coupling the window 20 and the display panel 10 ).
Claim 12: You and Aoyama disclose the display device of claim 10 ( as discussed above).
You teaches the printed layer ( Fig. 3 #310 ) comprises: and disposed adjacent to the display module ( [0049] The first printing layer 311 may be on one side of the base member 110 including the polymer resin layer or glass layer 130, the adhesive layer 150, the PET film 170, and the like, corresponding to a part of the opaque portion 212 of the base member 110 ) and the set module; and a second printed layer ( Fig. 3 second printing layer #312 ) disposed between the first printed layer and the window base.
You does not appear to disclose a first printed layer including the matting agent and a second printed layer not including the matting agent.
However, Aoyama teaches a first printed layer including the matting agent ( [0140] The pattern layer 5 may contain a matting agent for easily obtaining a visual effect due to the gloss difference from the projections 20 ) and a second printed layer not including the matting agent ( [0127] For forming the base coating layer 4, an ink consisting of a resin composition (ink for base coating layers) is used. )
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to utilize the teachings of Aoyama with You to implement a first printed layer including the matting agent and a second printed layer not including the matting agent because this balances anti-glare performance with optical clarity and surface durability.
Claim 13: You and Aoyama disclose the display device of claim 10 ( as discussed above).
You does not appear to disclose a thickness of the printed layer is in a range of about 5 µm to about 7 µm.
However, Aoyama teaches a thickness of the printed layer is in a range of about 5 µm to about 7 µm ( [0143] The thickness of the pattern layer 5 may be appropriately selected according to the desired pattern. The thickness of the pattern layer 5 is preferably 1 μm or more, more preferably 3 μm or more, further preferably 5 μm or more. The upper limit of the thickness of the pattern layer 5 is preferably 10 μm or less, more preferably 7 μm or less, further preferably 5 μm or less ).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to utilize the teachings of Aoyama with You to implement a thickness of the printed layer is in a range of about 5 µm to about 7 µm because this range optimizes the balance between optical performance, structural integrity, and manufacturing efficiency.
Claim 14: You and Aoyama disclose the display device of claim 10 ( as discussed above).
You does not appear to disclose the printed layer is a single layer formed from the ink composition.
However, Aoyama teaches the printed layer is a single layer formed from the ink composition ( Fig. 3 pattern layer #5; [0136] An ink (ink for pattern layers) consisting of a resin composition containing a resin binder and colorants is used for forming the pattern layer 5 ).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to utilize the teachings of Aoyama with You to implement the printed layer is a single layer formed from the ink composition because a single layer allows for simplified, additive manufacturing.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIMBERLY N FREY whose telephone number is (571)272-5068. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Marlon Fletcher can be reached at (571)272-2063. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/K.N.F./Examiner, Art Unit 2817
/MARLON T FLETCHER/Supervisory Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2817